[Winona Online Democracy]
Paul,
I think you bring up some good points and, actually, some of these issues
are similar to things that the Online Democracy Steering Committee has
discussed in the past (though, addmitedly we've been more focused on other
issues in the past couple of months). If you don't mind, I'll use your
comment as a jumping off point to talk about some of the ideas we've talked
about.
A few of the ideas we've discussed are:
1. Sponsoring events to be broadcast on cable televisions that would
include a moderated panel discussing the pros and cons of a particular issue
and taking questions from an audience as well as via telephone and email.
2. Seeing if either of our local newspapers would be interested in letting
us have a bi-weekly column in which we would provide an overview of what was
being debated/discussed on Online Democracy. (Any references to particular
posts to the list would only be included with permission of the author.)
3. Sponsoring face to face discussion groups on particular issues.
We did successfully host our first Online Event ("The Schools our Children
Deserve" http://www.winona.org) and the dialogue that came out of those
discussions is being developed into discussion guides that will, hopefully,
be used for a series of public face-to-face discussions later this year on
the issue of education and standardized testing. The discussion guides are
being developed through a joint effort with the National Study Circles
Resource Center. They are interested in the concept of using online
discussion to help define issues that could then serve as the basis for face
to face discussions (you can learn more about them
at(http://www.studycircles.org). This is, I believe, the first time they've
worked on a project like ours.
We are also pursuing grant opportunities to help expand our ability to
promote public dialogue, increase participation within the community to
include people who may have difficulty accessing technology, and develop
some online tools to make it easier for everyone to participate.
Another idea we had -- and you all will have to let us know what you
think -- is to plan some sort of event in which everyone who participates in
Online Democracy is invited to meet eachother face to face. We could also
use this opportunity to answer questions, hear suggestions, and help people
with technical issues.
Right now, the primary thing that prevents us from taking on many of these
ideas is the need for more volunteer help in getting them organized. We
really appreciate the people who attend the steering committee meetings, but
we really need to get more people involved if there is interest in
continuing to build public dialogue in the community.
-Steve Kranz, Co-Chair
-Winona Online Democracy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Double" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2001 7:15 PM
Subject: [Winona] Local Media Coverage
> [Winona Online Democracy]
>
> There have been several issues since the start of the Online Democracy
that
> should have grabbed the attention or wet the appetite of the local
> newspapers, radio and cable. I find it hard to understand why they have
> not been covered, discussed or challenged in their forums or has the media
> confine its coverage to what is easy, felt the facts are to boring or
> complicated for the public to comprehend. I don't agree with that and
have
> always felt that the public, given the facts, has the uncanny ability to
> sort things out. It would seem to me that the challenge for the many media
> sources in Winona is to be different, to have an identity that sets them
> apart from their competition or have they have resigned the opportunity to
> Public Radio and Television.
>
> How about letting people ask questions which require written answers such
> as the discussions on snow removal policy? I thought it was informative
> and helpful get the answers by the people on the front lines
>
> How about informative reports on what a bus ride costs verses the fare?
Is
> it a revenue source or drain?
>
> How about the per pupil cost of instruction for Special Education verses
> what the state and federal government provide and how does it compare with
> music, physical education, lab or lecture classes?
>
> How about putting people" not elected officials" for and against the DM&E
> on the radio or cable to discuss the impact that they think it will have
on
> their lives.
>
> Maybe some of these things are happening and I'm just not tuned in.
>
> Maybe others have better and other ideas to add
>
> Paul Double
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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